Results from the meeting of 8th Feb

It was a good meeting with ideas from all directions. We talked around many of the issues facing the people of Haiti and also what kind of response we could make.

It has become apparent to us all that we really did not have a lot of information as to how best to respond. Consequently a decision was made to state our objective in a broad way at this time as " to provide assistance to the Dental Community and the People of Haiti". I think the general feeling was that if we define our objective fairly loosely, we can refine it later as more information becomes available.

Tony Patey, the sec of the Dental Association most kindly agreed to keep minutes and act as sec to the Committee, even I might add on his day off. Thanks Tony. Margot Hiltz has kindly agreed to a roving commission, to be the project contact for the Federal Government and also to liase with Dental Schools.

After some discussion I think that we all felt that we would like "own" this project here in the Province. We are quite aware that the FDI, the CDA and the Red Cross, will be responding in some manner and whilst we can complement and liase with these organisations, and make use of info, we were all of the opinion that we would like make a difference in a way that was meaningful to us and also the people of Haiti.

We discovered that the matching of funds from the Federal Government ran out one month after the earthquake, (last Friday)so this a bit of a blow to our aspirations however we can still make a difference. I did call the Red Cross to see if they would assist us in some way but they were so overwhelmed themselves they did not respond.

I think that nearly everyone in the Dental Community here in the Province ought to be aware, by now, of our Partnership in our Dental Relief Project. We did experience some issues with email, however I think that is fixed now and trust that everyone is in the loop. Anyone who isn't may call the Dental Association as they most kindly are coordinating these issues.

We shall soon be compiling an inventory of equipment etc that has been pledged to the project in the near future, and we would like to thank again the response from so many.

We have the next meeting again at the Dental Association offices at the Fortis Building this coming Monday the 24 February at 7.30 pm. We know that some of you couldn't make it last week but we would love to see your support and feedback.